Data transmission system, and method of transmitting data from a central station to a track-bound vehicle

Abstract

A data transmission system for transmitting data from a central station to a track-bound vehicle traveling on a track includes plural track-side transmitting and receiving devices communicating with an on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device. Each of the track-side transmitting and receiving devices is operatively connected to at least two control computers for communication with the central station. In this way, if the cases arises that the control computer of a pertaining track-side transmitting and receiving device crashes, the communication of this track-side transmitting and receiving device with the central station is maintained through intervention of the other one of the control computers.

1. A data transmission system for transmitting data from a central station to a track-bound vehicle traveling on a track, comprising plural track-side transmitting and receiving devices communicating with an on-vehicle transmitting and receiving equipment, each of the track-side transmitting and receiving devices operatively connected to at least two control computers for communication with the central station, wherein the control computers are so configured that at a crash of one of the control computers communication of the pertaining track-side transmitting and receiving devices with the central station is maintained through intervention of the other one of the control computers. 
     
     
       2. The data transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein the track is subdivided in track sections, each track section including a one of the control computers and a first plurality of the track-side transmitting and receiving devices, said first plurality of the track-side transmitting and receiving devices being operatively connected to a one of the control computers associated to a neighboring one of the track sections. 
     
     
       3. The data transmission system of  claim 2 , wherein each track section has a bus for establishing a communication in the track section between the track-side transmitting and receiving devices and the one control computer, wherein the track-side transmitting and receiving devices has an interface to the bus, and wherein each of the control computers has a first interface to the bus of the associated track section and a second interface to the bus of a neighboring one of the track sections. 
     
     
       4. The data transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the control computers has a third interface to the bus of another one of the neighboring track sections. 
     
     
       5. The data transmission system of  claim 2 , wherein each track section has a bus for establishing a communication in the track section between the track-side transmitting and receiving devices and the associated control computer, wherein the control computers have each an interface to the bus of the associated track section, and wherein the track-side transmitting and receiving devices have a first interface to the bus of the associated track section and a second interface to the bus of a neighboring one of the track sections. 
     
     
       6. A method for transmitting data from a central station to a track-bound vehicle traveling on a track, comprising the steps of:
 disposing along the track of the track-bound vehicle a plurality of track-side transmitting and receiving devices for communication with an on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device; 
 operatively connecting at least two control computers to a central station; and 
 connecting each of the track-side transmitting and receiving devices to the at least two control computers so that at a breakdown of one of the control computers communication of the pertaining track-side transmitting and receiving devices with the central station is maintained through intervention of the other one of the control computers. 
 
     
     
       7. A data transmission system for transmitting data from a central station to a track-bound vehicle traveling on a track, comprising a track-side control equipment communicating with an on-vehicle control equipment and operatively connected to at least two control computers for communication with the central station, wherein the control computers are so configured that at a crash of one of the control computers communication of the track-side control equipment with the central station is maintained through intervention of the other one of the control computers. 
     
     
       8. The data transmission system of  claim 7 , wherein the track-side control equipment includes a plurality of transmitting and receiving devices. 
     
     
       9. The data transmission system of  claim 7 , wherein the track is subdivided in track sections, each track section including a one of the control computers and a track-side control equipment, said other one of the control computers being associated to a neighboring track section. 
     
     
       10. The data transmission system of  claim 9 , wherein the track section is interfaced with a bus for establishing a communication between the track-side control equipment and the one control computer, and wherein the one control computer has a first interface to the bus of the track section and a second interface to a bus of a neighboring track section. 
     
     
       11. The data transmission system of  claim 10 , wherein the one control computer has a third interface to a bus of another neighboring track section. 
     
     
       12. The data transmission system of  claim 9 , wherein the track section has a bus, said one control computer interfaced with said bus, and with the track-side control equipment having a first interface to said bus and a second interface to a bus of a neighboring track section.